Loropetalum plant named ‘IRODORI’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Loropetalum  cultivar named ‘IRODORI’ is disclosed, characterized by bright pink, white, green and maroon variegated foliage, tall upright and spread habit and bright pink flowers with some flower re-bloom after the initial heavy Spring bloom. The new variety is a  Loropetalum , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Loropetalum chinense.

Variety denomination: ‘IRODORI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Loropetalum cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Yuji Suzuki, in Kawaguchi City, Saitama,Japan. The objective of the breeding program was to produce newLoropetalum varieties with better foliage color and improved floweringfor ornamental commercial applications. The cross resulting in this newvariety was made during Apr. 24, 2004.

The seed parent is the, unpatented, commercial variety referred to asLoropetalum ‘Kinsai’. The pollen parent is the unpatented, proprietyvariety referred to as Loropetalum ‘3-28’. The new variety wasdiscovered in a commercial nursery by the inventor in a group ofseedlings resulting from the 2004 crossing, in Kawaguchi City, Saitama,Japan.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by softwoodcuttings. This was first performed at a commercial nursery in KawaguchiCity, Saitama, Japan, in 2009 and has shown that the unique features ofthis cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in 5 successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘IRODORI’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘IRODORI’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘IRODORI’ as a new and distinct Loropetalumcultivar:

-   -   1. Bright and well variegated foliage with pink, white, slight        undertones of green and maroon colors.    -   2. Tall, upright and spreading plant, reaching 4 to 6 feet tall.    -   3. Stunning bright pink flower that complement the variegated        foliage.    -   4. Some re-bloom occurs after the initial heavy Spring        flowering.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘IRODORI’ are similar to plants of the seedparent, Loropetalum ‘Kinsai’ in most horticultural characteristics,however, plants of the new cultivar ‘IRODORI’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. Bright red/pink flowers. The seed parent flower color is red.    -   2. Upright and outwardly spreading growth habit. The seed parent        growth habit is only upright.    -   3. Foliage shape is broad ovate. The parent foliage shape is        ovate.    -   4. Brighter foliage variegation of pink, white, green and        maroon. The seed parent foliage color is more subdued and only        white, scarlet and purple.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘IRODORI’ are similar to plants of the pollenparent, Loropetalum ‘3-28’ in most horticultural characteristics,however, plants of the new cultivar ‘IRODORI’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. Bright red/pink flowers; the pollen parent flower color is        scarlet.    -   2. Upright and spreading growth habit; the pollen parent growth        habit is only spreading.    -   3. Back of leaf color is a lighter shade of green.    -   4. Brighter foliage variegation of pink, white, green and        maroon; the parent pollen parent is only variegated with white.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘IRODORI’ are comparable to the patented,commercial variety Loropetalum ‘Shang-hi’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,331.The two Loropetalum varieties are similar in most horticulturalcharacteristics; however, the new variety ‘IRODORI’ differs in thefollowing:

-   -   1. Upright and somewhat open, free branching growth habit. The        comparator growth habit is upright and more densely branched.    -   2. Bright foliage variegation of pink, white, green and maroon.        The comparator foliage is solid dark purple.    -   3. Degree of variegation changes throughout the season becoming        most prominent in late Summer and Fall. The comparator holds        same color all season.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘IRODORI’ grown in a 1 gallon pot. Age of the plantphotographed is approximately 1 to 2 years old from a rooted cutting.

FIG. 2 illustrates the foliage, around July 2014.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘IRODORI’ plants grown in a greenhouse, inGrand Haven Mich. The growing temperature averaged from 60° F. to 65° F.during the day and from 40° F. to 50° F. during the night. Growingconditions are double poly from Fall through Winter and shade cloththrough the Summer. Measurements and numerical values represent averagesof typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Loropetalum ‘IRODORI’.

PROPAGATION

-   Type of propagation typically used: Cutting.-   Time to initiate roots: 18 days at 27° C.-   Number of days to produce a rooted liner in summer: 110 days at 27°    C.-   Root description: Medium to thick, fibrous, free branching and    fleshy. New roots are purple in color, aging to brown.

PLANT

-   Type of plant: Perennial shrub.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 1.5 to 2 years old.-   Container size of the plant described: 2 gallon.-   Growth habit: Mounded upright.-   Height: 4 to 6 feet.-   Plant spread: 4 feet.-   Growth rate: Good.-   Plant vigor: Good.-   Branching characteristics: Horizontally emerging branches,    originating from base of plant. Angle between 0-45°.-   Length of primary lateral branches: 41.6 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: 3 cm.-   Quantity of primary lateral branches: 20.-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Form.—Round.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.        -   Color.—Young stems: Near RHS Greyed-orange 176A. Older            stems: Near RHS Greyed-orange 165A.        -   Aspect.—Straight.        -   Strength.—Good.        -   Texture.—Stem pubescence, more prevalent in younger stems.-   Internode length: 1.5 cm.

Foliage:

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, Single.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 93 per branch.        -   Average length.—1.5-4.5 cm.        -   Average width.—0.9-3.3 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Ovate rounded.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Oblique.        -   Margin.—Entire to partially sinuate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Slightly rough due to pubescence.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Ribbed due to protruding veins            and course due to pubescence.        -   Color.—Young foliage represents Spring coloration. Mature            foliage Summer coloration. Fall color: Upper side: Near RHS            Greyed-Orange 167B with 168A, small amount of 169A and            Greyed-Green 197A. Under side: Glaucous, near RHS            Greyed-Green 197A, mottled Greyed-Orange 167B with 168A.            Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Red-purple 75A and            Red-purple 71B in young leaves to Orange-white 159C with            mottled overlay of Black 202A. Young foliage under side:            Glaucous. Near RHS Red-purple 59A. Mature foliage upper            side: Continued mottling of Near RHS Red-purple 75A,            Red-purple 71B and Orange-white 159C with larger patches of            Black 202A, becoming solid Black 202A with slight undertones            of green and red. Mature foliage under side: Glaucous. Near            RHS Greyed-green 191A overlaying Greyed-purple 186B.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Midribs            and veins are depressed on the upper side. Only distinct            color detection on lighter variegated leaves Near RHS            Greyed-red 182C. Venation color under side: Midribs and            veins are prominent on the underside. Near RHS Greyed-purple            186B.        -   Petiole.—Length: 0.25 to 0.5 cm. Diameter: 1.0 mm. Color:            Younger: Near RHS Greyed-purple 183B. Older: Near RHS            Greyed-red 182B.

Flower:

-   Arrangement: At terminal end of branch.-   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Perfect flowers, comprised    of strap-shaped petals, occurring in terminal (mainly) and axillary    (occasionally) umbels.-   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence: 6-7.-   Persistent or self-cleaning: Strap-shape, self-cleaning.-   Flowering habit: Terminal and axial along stem.-   Flower aspect: Upright and outward.-   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem: 14-30.-   Quantity of flowers per plant: 70-500 depending on size and maturity    of the plant.-   Natural flowering season: Spring and some Fall re-bloom.-   Fragrance: None.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Round.        -   Length.—2 mm.        -   Diameter.—2.5 mm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Red-purple 59B.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—4.        -   Shape.—Linear, not fused.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length: 2.5-3 cm.        -   Width: 3-5 mm.        -   Apex.—Slightly retuse and petals are curled at the tips.        -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS Red-purple 71A.            Lower surface: Near RHS Red-purple 71A. Fully opened: Upper            surface: Near RHS Red-purple 71A. Lower surface: Near RHS            Red-purple 71A.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—4.        -   Appearance.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Arrangement.—Whorl.        -   Shape.—Ovate and fused, slightly curled outward.        -   Length.—4 mm.        -   Width.—3 mm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Margin.—Entire, smooth.        -   Color.—Upper Side: Near RHS Red-purple 71B slightly            glaucous. Under side: Near RHS Red-purple 61B.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—4.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—2.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease/pest resistance: No unusual susceptibility to diseases or    pets noted to date.-   Drought tolerance: Moderate to good drought tolerance once    established.-   Temperature tolerance: Typical for Loropetalum, with a maximum low    temperature tolerance to USDA zone 7.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Loropetalum plantnamed ‘IRODORI’ as herein illustrated and described.